Peddler's Village kicks off its Colonial series in style

The lobby is warm as a fire roars in the fireplace of the Cock ’n Bull restaurant. Not only does the fire provide warmth in these winter months, but on Monday nights from now until March 25, that heat will be used for another purpose — cooking.

Peddler’s Village kicked off its long-standing “Evenings in the Colonial Kitchen” series on Monday, Jan. 7, bringing to life the Colonial culinary experience at Cock ’n Bull restaurant.

In a scene straight out of a Colonial kitchen, guests find food historians dressed in Colonial-era clothing cooking at the fireplace as they enter the restaurant. Strapped to a long plank board is a fish, slowly roasting next to the roaring fire. Beef roasts on a “clock-work jack” — spinning as the smoke billows by.

The food historians are from Craven Hall, located at the corner of Newtown and Street roads in Warminster, where they run open-hearth cooking classes. As part of the Colonial kitchen series, they teach guests about the time-consuming methods Colonial cooks used to prepare their meals.

“It makes sense the women didn’t work outside the home, because they needed to start their meal preparation around 9 in the morning,” Lyn Schreiner, food historian, said. In order to have the required heat, fires needed be built an hour before cooking even begins.

Using a Dutch oven that dangles over the fire, the ladies demonstrate how to prepare one menu item — breast of chicken with sausage stuffing. A display of kitchen tools adorns an old wooden table, including a nut shaver, and guests are encouraged to ask any questions about how the items are used.

Other items are prepared, based on what colonists living in the Philadelphia area would have access to at this time of year. In fact, since Philadelphia was the second largest city in the world in terms of trading, locals had much access to a wide variety of spices, Schreiner said.

When the savory smells begin to get to you, head to the restaurant’s dining room for an outstanding culinary experience.

“Our chef collaborates with Colonial scholars and creates a menu full of 18th century cuisine,” Manager of Cock ’n Bull restaurant Kimberly Sutton said. “We try to keep it as authentic as possible — which is why this year’s carrot cake doesn’t have icing!”

In fact, during the 18th century, meals this involved would be served in a manor household as a special occasion because public establishments didn’t have the capability to prepare such meals on a large scale, Sutton said.

At first, guests are brought a basket full of freshly-baked Colonial favorites, including Mrs. Booth’s Biscuits, Pumpkin Squash Bread and Johnny Cakes. Next, you can choose from a variety of soups or a frosted fruit shrub — a traditional festive fruit course, accented by the New World’s latest discovery — Fresh Fruit Ice.

Another pre-dinner course includes the option between tossed greens with Kitchen Garden Herb Dressing and the scrumptious Black Cherry Sallet — a molded festive treat topped with Soured Creame and Nut Dressing.

In order to allow the widest variety in culinary tasting, guests can choose two entrees from the menu of hearty entrées each accompanied by the chef’s selection of garden vegetables. Options range from a ham or jambalaya to cod or a chicken pot pie.

You don’t even have to choose among the desserts — each guest gets a sampling of the four desserts, including Lemon Curd Tart, Spiced Carrot Cake, Apple Whiskey Tart and an Almond Pye.

As you enjoy your dinner, Colonial era music plays, as provided by Marianne and Tom Tucker.

“In a public place, it was considered unladylike to raise your arms above your shoulder, so women who performed would mostly play the piano,” Marianne Tucker said.

Each Monday, historical actors from the American Historical Theatre in Philadelphia are present to teach guests about the Colonial Era. The actors and actresses make their way around the dining room, telling stories about their experiences, while tying those stories to the historical context.

If you want to catch President George Washington and his wife, Martha, who will make an appearance on President’s Day, make your reservations soon because this evening is the hottest of the series.

You didn’t miss your chance to see two leaders of U.S. westward expansion — Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who kicked off the series. They will return on March 18.

For a full list of the historical characters and their scheduled visits, go to www.peddlersvillage.com.